Ore-concentrator.



G. BURNHART.

ORE OONGENTBATOR.

7 APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1909. I v 966,521., 7 Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

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G. W. BURNHART.

I ORE GONGENTRATOR APPLICATION nun) APR. 8,1909.

966,521. I Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

3 BHBETSBH EBT 2.

GEORGE W. BURNHART, OF WARD, COLORADO.

ORE-CONCENTBATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 9,1910.

Application filed April 8, 1909. Serial No. 488,599.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. BURN- HART, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Ward, in the county of Boulder and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inOre-Concentrators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to submerged ore concentrators and has for itsobject to produce a machine of this character which will effectually,thoroughly and expeditiously clean and separate concentrates, tailingsand what is known as slimes.

A further object is to produce a machine of this character which createsand maintains a circulation of the water in which it is submerged forthe purpose of effecting the cleansing and separation of theconcentrates, tailings and slimes.

A further object is to produce means for separating and collecting theslimes or other matter precipitated from that part of the water activelyengaged in the cleaning operation.

\Vith these and other objects in view as hereinafter appear, theinvention consists in certain novel and peculiar features ofconstruction and organization as hereinafter described and claimed; andin order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a vertical section of amachine embodying my invention, on the line IIof Fig. 2. Fig. 2, is ahorizontal section on the line II-II of Fig. 1. Fig. 8, is a verticaltransverse section on the line III-III of Fig 1. Fig. 4, is an enlargedvertical section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2. Fig. 5, is a verticallongitudinal section taken centrally of the swinging table, and alsoshows a spring for moving the table in one direction and a cam formoving it in the opposite direction, the figure furthermore showing apart of the frame and a roller for preventing the current-producing partfrom sagging adjacent to the front end of the table. Fig. 6 is a sectionon the line VI-VI of Fig. 2.

In the said drawings, in which like reference characters identifycorresponding parts in all of the figures, 1 indicates a tank, andlargely submerged in water contained in said tank, is an oreconcentrator constructed as follows:

2 indicates sills extending longitudinally and resting on the bottomof'the" tank. 3

indicates a pair of opposite frames secured upon the front ends of saidsills and 4 a pair of frames upon the rear ends of said sills, theframes 3 and 4 of each sill forming the sides of the frame of themachine.

5 is a transversely-arranged roller having its shaft or spindles 5journaled on frames 3, and 6 indicates the shaft'or spindles of asimilar but preferably smaller transverselyarranged roller 7, said shaftor spindles being journaled on frames 4, and connecting said rollers isan endless belt 8 provided with outwardly-projecting cleats orwings 9for creating and maintaining a circulation of the water in the directionindicated by the arrows adjacent to said belt.

Arranged between the rollers and just under and substantially parallelwith the upper strand of the belt is a table which by preference slopesupward slightly toward its front end from a point contiguous to such endas shown in Fig. 1, and said table consists of a bottom and side walls11 proj ecting above the bottom, the frames 8 carrying a transverse rod3 above and near the front end of the table to guard against anypossibility of the belt 8 sagging at such point sufliciently tointerfere with the free discharge of the concentrates from the front endof the table, as hereinafter explained. Pivoted at their lower ends toand near the opposite ends of the walls of the table are threaded rods12 engagingv threaded passages 13 in the vertically-disposed hubs ofcranks 14, the hubs of said cranks beingjournaled in parallel rock-bars15 extending transversely of the frame of the machine and terminating inspindles 16 journaled in the opposite sides of said frame, thearrangement being such that when pressure is applied on said tabletending to move it endwise, it will be caused to describe a slightswinging movement by said rock-bars and the connections between the sameand the table, it being also noticed in this connection that thealtitude of the table can be varied and it can be caused to assume aperfectly level or a tilting position by a proper adjustment of thecranks 14, as will be readily understood.

17 indicates a pipe leading from the point of supply, not shown, of thecrushed ore to be treated, such ore being mixed with water to cause itto flow down through pipe17 and the branches 18 thereof to the oppositeends of a perforated pipe 19 arranged just above the table and under theupper strand ported above the plane of the tank by a bracket 24projecting upward from the tank, and intermediate of said wheels theupper and lower strands of said conveyer pass under and are helddepressed by a pair of anti-friction rollers 25 and 26 journaled intheframe 3, sov that the port-ion of the belt underlying the table shalloccupy a substantially horizontal position, the remaining portion of thebelt extending upwardly from said anti-friction rollers to said wheel23. A similar conveyer or belt is arranged under the opposite or rearend of the table to re ceive the tailings therefrom, the said conveyer,numbered 27, being supported and guided by parts corresponding in allrespects to those described in connection with the conveyer or belt 21.

For the purpose'of limiting the forward swinging movement of the table,it is pro vided with one or more shoulders 28 to strike againstabutments or stops 29 rigid and preferably cast integral with frames 3,as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, and to impart such endwisemovement to the table, a spring 30 is secured at its outer end to thebottom of the table (see Figs. 3 and 5) and at its innerend to atransverse shaft 31 j ournaled in bearings 32 secured to frame 3; saidshaft being equipped with a ratchet wheel 33 engaged by a gravity pawl34 carried by the adjacent frame 3 as shown, the adjacent end of theshaft'being preferably squared as at 35 for convenient engagement by awrench or its equivalent, by which the shaft may be turned to increasethe tension of spring 30, the tension of such spring being relaxed ifdesired, by tripping the pawl to permit the shaft to turn backward.

36 indicates a transverse shaft journaled in bearings 37 and 38 carriedby frames 4, and provided centrally with a double-ar1n cam 39 foralternate engagement with a projection or shoulder 40 depending from thebottom of the table, said projection or shoulder preferably being in theform of a V- shaped frame riveted as at 41 to the bottom of the table.

42 is a drive-chain engaging the sprocketv wheel 43 secured on one endon shaft 36, said shaft being equipped at its opposite end with asprocket wheel 44 connected by a chain 45 with a sprocket wheel 46secured on, shaft 6 of roller 7.

47 is a worm on shaft 36 meshing with a worm-wheel 48 on a longitudinalshaft 49 carrying the drive-wheel 22 of belt 21 and the correspondingdrive-wheel of belt 27.

50 is a perforated plate or foraminous partition arranged below the belt8 and supported by preference on lugs 51 cast with frames 3 and 4.Partition 52 and a partition 54 are arranged in the same plane aspartition 50 but at opposite sides of the machine, partition 52 beingsecured upon lugs 53 of the frame of the machine and partition 54 uponsimilar lugs 55 and a cleat 56 secured to one of the Walls of the tank.These partitions are employed to provide a chamber in which the waterwill remain substantially quiet or still and into which the heavierslimes-will be precipitated from the water in the upper chamber throughthe perforated plate 50, it being obvious of course that plates 52 and54 may also be perforated if desired.

In practice, motion is im arted through chain 42 to shaft 36 and rom thesame through chain 45 to belt 8 and through the worm-gearing to belts 21and 27. The rotation of shaft 36 causes the arms of the cam to impartendwise movement twice in each revolution of said shaft to the table inthe direction indicated by'the arrow thereon (Fig. 1) each of suchmovements tensioning spring30; so that the same shall reverse suchmovement of the table the instant said cam arms pass out of engagementwith the projection or shoulder 40, such reverse or forward movements ofthe table being arrested by contact of shoulders 28 with abutments 29,it being obvious of course that a jar or shock is incidental to thearrest ofeach for ward movement of the table, this jar or shock tendingto cause the concentrates to in effect climb forward on the table by aseries of jumping actions, which movements of the concentrates takeplace in opposition to the current of water which flows rearward on thetable below the upper strand of the belt,

'which, it will be apparent, creates a circulation of water in thedirection indicated by the arrows adjacent to the belt, as hereinbeforeexplained. This current is sufliciently strong to carry the tailingsrearward'upon the table. The concentrates drop upon the conveyer or belt21 and the tailings upon the conveyer or belt 27 and are conveyedthereby upwardly through the tank and discharged from the elevated endsof the conveyersinto suitable receptacles, not shown. It will beapparent that the concentrates and tailings are thoroughly washed by thewater and that the slimes or parts held in suspension by the water willcirculate with the latter, the heavy slimes being precipitated downwardand eventually find their way through the perforated partition into thestill water chamber below, where they more readily and more quicklysettle upon the bottom of the tank. By thus providing for a separationof the heavier from the lighter slimes the water in the tank can be usedfor a longer period than if such separation was not effected, and afterthe operation of the machine is brought to a close those in charge willnot have to wait as long a time for the settling or precipitation of theremaining slimes to take place, before drawing off the water andcollecting the slimes, which of course are of more or less valueaccording to the character or kind of ore being treated. The slimes maybe removed in any suitable manner and access to them can be readily hadby removing plate 54, the water being preferably first drained from thetank through drain pipe 57, or it may be otherwise removed, the samepipe being utilized if de sired to recharge the tank with fresh waterpreliminary to a second concentrating action.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced asubmerged ore concentrating machine embodying the features of advantageenumerated as desirable and which is susceptible of modification invarious particulars without departing from the principle and scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. The combination with a tank of an ore concentrating machine,comprising a suitable frame within the tank, a table therein, means toreceive concentrates and tailings discharged from the opposite ends ofsaid table, means to impart endwise vibratory movement to said table,and an endless traveling belt submerged in the water of the tank andadapted to travel from the front toward the rear end of the table andcause the water upon the latter to flow in the same direction.

2. The combination with a tank of an ore concentrating machine,comprising a suit able frame within the tank, a table therein, means toreceive concentrates and tailings discharged from opposite ends of saidtable, means to impart endwise vibratory movement to said table, anendless traveling belt submerged in the water of the tank and adapted totravel from the front toward the rear end of the table and cause thewater upon the latter to flow in the same direction, and means todischarge crushed ore upon the table.

3. The combination with a .tank of an ore concentrating machine,comprising a suitable frame within the tank, a table therein, means toreceive concentrates and tailings discharged from opposite ends of saidtable, means to impart endwise vibratory movement to said table, anendless traveling belt submerged in the water of the tank with its upperstrand above and adjacent to the table and its lower strand below thetable and moving so that its upper strand shall travel from the fronttoward the rear end of the table to cause the water upon the latter toflow in the same direction, means to discharge crushed ore upon thetable and below the upper strand of the belt, and means for abruptlyarresting the forward vibratory movements of the table.

4. The combination with a tank of an ore concentrating machine,comprising a suitable frame within the tank, a table suspended from saidframe, an endless conveyer arranged within the tank with its upperstrand above and its lower strand below the table, means to depositcrushed ore upon the table, means for causing said conveyer to travel sothat its upper strand-shall move from the front toward the rear end ofthe table, a rotary cam to impart rearward endwise movement to thetable, means for reversing the movement of the table when released bythe cam, means to suddenly arrest each forward movement of the table,and means to receive concentrates and tailings discharged from theopposite ends of the table through the vibratory movements thereof.

5. The combination with a tank of an ore concentrating machine,comprising a suitable frame within the tank, a table suspended from saidframe, an endless belt arranged within the tank with its upper strandabove and its lower strand below the table, meansto deposit crushed oreupon the table, means for causing said belt to travel so that its upperstrand shall move from the front toward the rear end of the table, arotary cam to impart rearward endwise movement to the table, a springfor reversing such vibratory movement, means to suddenly ar-v rest suchreverse or forward movement of the table, and means to receiveconcentrates and tailings discharged from the opposite ends of saidtable through the vibratory movements thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. BURNHART.

Witnesses:

H. C. RODGERS, G. Y. THORPE.

